John DAVIES FCA - Independent EXIT SUPPORT
Been approached to sell your business - or considering a structured exit?
Before you respond, understand how valuation, structure and leverage are shaped — often before lawyers are involved.
Risk often enters a deal before lawyers do.
Many owners assume risk appears when contracts are drafted.
In reality, risk often enters earlier — when buyers initiate contact, shape expectations and define what feels “normal.”
Early conversations influence valuation, structure and control long before formal documentation.
Understanding that dynamic matters.
When a Buyer Makes Contact.
You may not have been planning to sell.
The approach feels informal.
They suggest a conversation.
They request financial information.
They reference sector interest or attractive multiples.
It can feel exploratory.
It rarely is.
By the time a buyer contacts you, they often:
• Have analysed your sector
• Understand likely motivations
• Prefer a specific deal structure
• Move quickly to establish momentum
This is where independent judgement is most valuable.
Structured Exits: Control and Clarity
Structured or performance-linked exits are not inherently problematic.
The issue is rarely the headline price - It is post-completion control.
Before agreeing to earn-outs, deferred consideration or vendor finance, sellers should understand:
• Who controls operational decisions
• How costs are allocated
• What reporting visibility remains
• What protections exist if strategy changes
• How disputes are evidenced and resolved
The commercial question is simple:
Who controls the business that determines your future payments?
How I Help
Most sellers focus on price. Few examine the structure and buyer that determine if it is ever paid.
I work exclusively with business owners helping them understand
• Deal structure and payment mechanics
• Buyer funding and credibility
• Assumptions underpinning deferred payments
• Where commercial risk is being transferred
• Whether headline price reflects economic reality
My involvement is often most valuable before Heads of Terms are agreed — when leverage is still balanced.
Why early advice matters
Why Timing Matters
Once a structure is accepted in principle, outcomes are often largely set.
Clarity before commitment leads to stronger positioning and better decisions.
The Objective
To ensure sellers proceed with clarity, balance and eyes open — and exit with as much certainty as the deal allows.
If you would like to discuss whether I can help in your circumstances, I would be happy to have a confidential conversation.
Seller Survival Guide
If you have received an unsolicited or structured offer, this executive summary outlines:
• Where risk commonly enters
• How buyer-led processes shape leverage
• What to examine before agreeing terms
The full framework is available following confidential discussion.